Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today I’m offering some tips for avoiding clichéd story openings. So, let’s dive in!

Clichés to Avoid for an Original Novel Opening

Your story’s first few lines are crucial. They set the stage for your plot, introduce your readers to your world and your characters, and, most importantly, they are the hook that keeps your readers reading. However, it can be easy to slip into using a comfortable and familiar cliché in your opening lines.

Many writers (including myself when I first started) believe that because a particular type of opening has worked many times for many other writers, it will certainly work for them, but that isn’t necessarily the case.

So, how do you avoid clichés when crafting your novel’s opening? Here are a few tips:

1 Skip Overused Scenarios
Avoid starting your novel with scenarios readers have seen a thousand times before, such as the protagonist waking up, moving to a new town, or experiencing love at first sight. Instead, challenge yourself to create fresh situations that reveal something specific about your characters or plot. Maybe your protagonist is returning to their hometown after many years away, or perhaps they are struggling with remembering too much.

2 Avoid Predictable Descriptions
Instead of detailing your character’s physical appearance in the first couple of lines, reveal how they look, sound and act through actions and dialogue; this can help to avoid clichés and make your characters more engaging and relatable.

3 Bypass Banal Dialogue
Starting your novel with dialogue can be a great way to jumpstart your plot, but avoid using worn-out phrases like “We need to talk” or “You don’t understand”. Ensure your dialogue reveals something significant about your characters or their circumstances within the plot. A great way to open with dialogue is to mix it with action. For example, “Geronimo!” cried John as he jumped from the bungee platform.

4 Steer Clear of Information Overload
While it’s vital to provide background information, try to avoid the temptation to dump it all in your novel’s opening, which might overwhelm your readers and slow down the pace of your story. Instead, weave this information into your narrative naturally, for example, through dialogue.

5 To Prologue or Not to Prologue?
While not always a cliché, prologues can be overused and are often unneeded. Unless yours is crucial to your story, try incorporating the information from your prologue into your main narrative.

Remember, originality is essential when it comes to captivating your readers, and by avoiding clichés, you give your story a fighting chance of standing out in a sea of other stories. So, challenge yourself to create an opening that is uniquely yours.

Thank you, as always, for stopping by to read my post!

Until next time

George

© 2025 GLT

Categories: Editing, Writing Tips

Tags: cliches, novel, original, writing advice, Writing Tips